Credit Score Tips for Prospective Home Buyers
Aside from being available 24/7, every Tuesday our mortgage broker gives us an update on the most current rates and issues he is seeing in the mortgage world. Today we discussed the importance of credit scores for new home buyers and what they can do to get their scores up and keep them there. We thought we would share some tips & tricks since credit scoring is so confusing. Please don’t hesitate to contact Kevin with any questions specific to your situation.
Kevin Byrne ¦ Senior Loan Officer, NE Moves Mortgage, LLC ¦ Kevin.Byrne@NEmoves.com ¦ 781-718-3366
Your Credit Score
What It Means to You as a Prospective Home Buyer
Introduction
The History of Credit Scoring The credit score system used today has evolved since the 1950s. It was originally designed to provide lenders with financial profiles on consumers who wished to borrow money. The lenders’ biggest concern was whether or not an individual had the ability to repay a loan, and establish what percentage of risk might be involved. Congress passed the Fair Credit Reporting Act in 1971 to establish guidelines for fair practices in regard to the use of credit scoring. This law was designed to promote accuracy in reporting and protect the privacy of consumers. In light of the increased use of credit scoring and a growing fear of identity theft, recent legislation has been passed to further protect Americans and improve consumer awareness. The Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (sometimes referred to as The FACT ACT or FACTA) was signed by President George W. Bush on December 4, 2003. This amended the Fair Credit Reporting Act, enabling each American to obtain one free credit report every 12 months from each of the three main credit reporting agencies (CRAs); Equifax, Experian® and TransUnion®. Those bureaus have created a central web site, www.annualcreditreport.com, to accommodate Americans who wish to obtain copies of their credit report. Note: If you decide to take advantage of this program, please keep in mind that annualcreditreport.com does not offer free credit scores with your reports. However, you can purchase your score at the same time that you order your free report for around $7.95 per bureau. To have a complete picture of where you stand with your credit, it is always recommended that you order your scores at the same time. |
Why Your Credit Score is So Important The credit scoring model seeks to quantify the likelihood of a consumer to pay off debt without being more than 90 days late at any time in the future. Credit scores have many different ranges, however, the score that is used by 90% of lenders and creditors in this country is the FICO score, and the FICO score range is 300 to 850. Credit scores can range between a low score of 300 and a high score of 850. The higher the score, the better it is for the consumer, because a high credit score translates into a low interest rate. This can save literally thousands of dollars in financing fees over the life of the loan. Only one out of 1,300 people in the United States have a credit score above 800. These are people with a stellar credit rating that get the best interest rates. On the other hand, one out of every eight prospective home buyers is faced with the possibility that they may not qualify for the home loan they want because they have a score falling between 500 and 600. The Five Factors of Credit Scoring Credit scores are comprised of five factors. Points are awarded for each component, and a high score is most favorable. The factors are listed below in order of importance. PAYMENT HISTORY – 35% IMPACT
Paying debt on time and in full has the greatest positive impact on your credit score. Late payments, judgments and charge-offs all have a negative impact. Delinquencies that have occurred in the last two years carry more weight than older items. |
Your Credit Score |
Page 2 of 6
|
|||||||||||||||
TYPE OF CREDIT – 10% IMPACT
A mix of auto loans, credit cards and mortgages is more positive than a concentration of debt from credit cards only. You should always have 1-2 open major credit card accounts.INQUIRIES – 10% IMPACT This percentage of the credit score quantifies the number of inquiries made on a consumer’s credit within a twelve-month period. Each hard inquiry can cost from three to fifteen points on a credit score, depending on the amount of points someone has left in this factor. Note that if you pull your credit report yourself, it will have no effect on your score. Remember that the credit score is a computerized calculation. Personal factors are not taken into consideration when a credit report is generated. It is merely a snapshot of today’s credit profile for any given borrower, and it can fluctuate dramatically within the course of a week. How Does a Low Credit Score Affect My Interest Rate?
1. You May Never Own A Home AT ALL, AGAIN, Or FOR YEARS Whether or not you’ve always had poor credit, or have just suffered from the recent mortgage crisis, this is a very real possibility for individuals. If you have low scores or problematic reports, lenders will either deny you flat out or penalize you with such exorbitant rates that the outcome ranges from completely undesirable to impossible. 2. You Will Pay Higher Interest Rates It just makes sense that if you have higher credit scores, you will pay a lower interest rate on your mortgage loan and will have to put less down. Fair Isaac’s consumer website at http://www.myfico.com offers a mortgage payment calculator that is updated regularly to show consumers how their FICO score can affect their interest rate. |
Of course, interest rates are determined by many factors but the bottom line is that individuals with low credit scores will pay nearly three times more in interest than those with strong credit scores. 3. Now You Will Be Subject To Loan Level Price Adjustment Fees (LLPA’s) when applying for a conventional mortgage. Consumers with a middle score of less than 740 will now be subject to a credit score based fee known as Loan Level Price Adjustments. These fees were implemented by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2010 in an effort to recover money lost due to loan defaults. What this means to consumers is that if your scores are below 659, you could be paying a 3.250% fee on the total loan amount in addition to normal closing costs.
For people experiencing the worst-case scenario, carrying a middle credit score of less than 659 could cost you an extra $9,750 upfront on a $300,000 loan amount. 4. You Will Pay More For Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) PMI is insurance that mortgage lenders require from most homebuyers who have less than a 20% down payment on their property. If your credit scores are marginal, your private mortgage insurance rate might be hundreds of dollars higher per month than you expect, and you usually don’t find this out until closing. 5. You Will Compromise Your Ability To Refinance For “Cash Out” As you build equity in the ownership of your home, you may decide to borrow against that equity for the purpose of home improvement, debt consolidation, or even to pay college tuition for your children. Lower credit scores will not only affect your ability to take out a home equity line of credit (HELOC), but you will also have to pay higher interest rates and other upfront costs if you are approved. *SOURCE: Linda Ferrari’s Book, The Big Score – The Cost of NOT Paying Attention, www.lindaferrari.com |
Your Credit Score |
Page 3 of 6
|
|
How Does the Underwriter View My Score?
Today, you have access to your credit information all day and every day. This is wonderful news. Consumers now have the opportunity to quickly correct and maintain credit reports. It is mission critical for consumers to seize that advantage by assuming responsibility. Lenders, employers, and vendors judge us based on our credit reports, and they know that we are capable of doing so. The days of excuses are in the rearview mirror. Reports from the credit bureaus*. You can get started by acquiring a copy of your credit reports from each of the three major CRAs. It’s important to get reports from each of the three–not just one. The CRAs do not share data, so you need to get a full accounting of everything that is being reported. The reports that you receive directly from the three credit bureaus are easy to read. More importantly, going straight to the source of the data will ensure that your action plan begins with the most complete information being reported about you. This includes your credit accounts, your credit history, and your personal and demographic information. You can order your credit report and score from each credit bureau online, through the mail, or via telephone. Here is the information you need:
Be sure to call for the most recent mailing information when you are ready to contact the bureaus by mail. You can also use these numbers to order your reports by phone. Free credit reports*. By law, each of the CRAs must provide a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. To read more about this, a good source is the Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Alert that you can download here You can access this program in one of three ways: a) Go to http://www.annualcreditreport.com; or b) Call 1-877-322-8228; or c) Complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You can download the form with instructions at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt156.pdf. |
Remember, annualcreditreport.com does not offer free credit scores with your reports. However, you can purchase your score at the same time that you order your free report for around $7.95 per bureau. To have a complete picture of where you stand with your credit, it is always recommended that you order your scores at the same time. The underwriter who is making the decision as to whether or not you should get the loan you are asking for will generally look at the scores generated from all three CRAs. Typically, the score will not be the same from all three reports, and the underwriter will consider the middle score as a barometer. *SOURCE: Linda Ferrari’s Book, The Big Score – Getting Your Reports, www.lindaferrari.com Disputing Errors On the Credit Report
Here’s a breakdown of their findings:
SOURCE: U.S. Public Interest Group Research; One In Four Credit Reports Contains Errors Serious Enough To Wreak Havoc For Consumers, US PIRG Press release, 06/17/04 http://uspirg.org/uspirgnewsroom.asp?id2=13650&id3=USPIRGnewsroom
|
Your Credit Score |
Page 4 of 6
|
|
You should receive a response from the CRA within 30 to 45 days. If the error has been corrected, they will send you a fresh copy of your credit report at no charge to show you that the item has been removed or corrected. If you cannot have a disputed item removed, you have the right to include your side of the story on the credit report. Your statement should be a concise explanation (100 words or less) as to why you are challenging the item in question. From that point on, this notation will be included in your credit report as long as the item in question remains on your report.
You can repeat this process as many times as you want; however, after three to four attempts, you may consider filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission Consumer Response Center. You may be able to have your case added to a class action lawsuit against the bureau that is reporting the inaccurate information. You can access the FTC Complaint Wizard at http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml, or you can mail a complaint letter to the following address: Federal Trade Commission If you do not have proof in support of your claim and the CRAs refuse to remove the disputed item, you also have the right to include your side of the story on the credit report. Your statement should be a concise explanation (100 words or less) as to why you are challenging the item in question. From that point on, this notation will be included in your credit report as long as the item in question remains on your report. |
If you do not have established credit, you are not completely out of luck. Some lenders will pull a report that will show them whether or not consumers pay their rent and utility bills on time. If they like what they see, they may approve you for credit. That is why it is extremely important to pay these day-to-day living expenses on time. In addition, your ability to hold a steady job will improve the likelihood of being approved for credit. Dealing with Credit Challenges
Of course, there are exceptions where unforeseen circumstances come into play, such as health complications, or loss of employment. There are a few things that may be able to bring your score up so that you can secure a better interest rate on your mortgage loan. Example 1: Distribute debt from revolving credit. Example 2: Transfer outstanding balances to new accounts. Our borrower, Mr. Smith, has only two credit cards, but both are pushing the limit of available credit. Mr. Smith opens two new credit card accounts, each with a credit limit of $5,000. He transfers part of his existing balances to the new accounts. While he has acquired two new cards that have no established history, the greater impact is the change in the ratio of debt to available credit. |
Your Credit Score |
Page 5 of 6
|
|
Ultimately, experts say that it is best to have one to three major credit cards, and no more than that. You should keep your balances as low as possible. If you have a credit account with a zero balance, do not close the account. Instead, make a small purchase so the card shows up as an active account on your credit report, and you will be awarded points for your long-term credit history. These are just a few tips to consider as you seek to obtain mortgage financing. But you should always know that as your loan originator, my job is just beginning when you close your loan with me. As soon as you begin to make mortgage payments on time and in full, your credit standing will begin to improve. My team and I will continue to monitor rates on your behalf and alert you to the opportunity to refinance into a loan program with a lower interest rate as soon as possible. Our long-term goal is to help you build a strong financial future. Dos and Don’ts During the Loan Process
Under the new requirements of Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, and even FHA in some instances, lenders may be pulling your credit report a second time 1-3 days before closing. What this means is that if your credit scores have dropped, if you have applied for other credit accounts, or your debt-to-income ratio has changed, you may no longer qualify for the rate that was underwritten. This re-pull of your credit reports and scores could delay the closing of your loan, and in worst case scenario – could cause denial altogether. Following are some helpful tips to avoid the credit mistakes that many borrowers make during the loan process:* DO JOIN A CREDIT WATCH PROGRAM so that you can monitor your credit from shopping to closing. Pulling your own credit on-line WILL NOT HURT YOUR CREDIT SCORES. But here’s what you need to know. Be sure to look for a company that uses a score range as close to 300-850 as possible (the lender score range). Some on-line companies use a range of 501-990 which will lead you to believe that your scores are higher than they really are. For a fee of $9.95 p/month (first 30 days free) – you can pull your credit reports and scores from all three bureaus every 30 days at www.creditkeeper.com or www.privacyguard.com. And these companies will let you know instantly if there has been a change to your credit profile. |
DON’T APPLY FOR NEW CREDIT OF ANY KIND.Including those “You have been pre-approved” credit card invitations that you receive in the mail or online. Every time that you have your credit pulled by a potential creditor or lender, you lose points from your credit score immediately. New credit also brings a credit score down. Depending on the elements in your current credit report, you could lose anywhere from one to 15 points for one hard inquiry. DO PAY BILLS ON TIME. Stay current on existing accounts. Under the new FICO scoring model, one 30-day late can cost you anywhere from 50-100 points, and points lost for late pays take several months if not years to recover.
DON’T MAX OUT OR OVER CHARGE ON YOUR CREDIT CARD ACCOUNTS. In the matter of fact, DON’T charge on credit cards at all if possible. This is the fastest way to bring your scores down 50-100 points immediately. Keep your credit card balances below 30% of their available limit at ALL times during the loan process. And if you decide to pay down balances, do it across the board. Meaning, pay balances to bring your balance to limit ratio to the same level on each card (i.e. all to 30% of the limit, or all to 40% etc.) DON’T CONSOLIDATE YOUR DEBT ONTO 1 OR 2 CREDIT CARDS. It seems like it would be the smart thing to do, however, when you consolidate all of your debt onto one card, it appears that you are maxed out on that card, and the system will penalize you as mentioned. If you want to save money on credit card interest rates, wait until after closing. DON’T CLOSE ACCOUNTS. If you close a credit card account, you will lose available credit, and it will appear to FICO that your debt ratio has gone up. Also, closing a card or installment account will affect other factors in the score such as length of credit history. If you HAVE to close an account for DTI – plan ahead of time. DO NOT close credit cards until after closing. DON’T ALLOW ANY ACCOUNTS TO RUN PAST DUE – EVEN 1 DAY! Most cards offer a grace period, however, what they don’t tell you is that once the due date passes, that account will show a past due amount on your credit report. Past due balances can also drop scores by 50+ points. DON’T DISPUTE ANYTHING ON YOUR CREDIT REPORT once the loan process has started. When you send a letter of dispute to the credit reporting agencies, a note is put onto your credit report, and when the underwriter notices items in dispute, in many instances, they will not process the loan until the note is removed and new credit scores are pulled. Why? Because in some instances, credit scoring software will not consider items in dispute in the credit score – giving false data to the lender. |
Your Credit Score |
Page 6 of 6
|
|
DON’T DO ANYTHING THAT WILL CAUSE A RED FLAG TO BE RAISED BY THE SCORING SYSTEM.This includes the not-so-obvious things like co-signing on a loan or changing a name or address with the bureaus. The less activity on a report during the loan process, the better. MOST IMPORTANTLY – DO STAY IN CONTACT WITH YOUR MORTGAGE AND REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS. If you have a question about whether or not you should take a specific action that you believe may affect your credit reports or scores during the loan process, your mortgage or real estate professional may be able to supply you with the resources you need. *SOURCE: Linda Ferrari’s Book, The Big Score – Getting It & Keeping It www.lindaferrari.com Credit Remediation
You can also write to the FTC to request a copy of their free brochure titled Credit Repair: Self Help May Be Best, which includes information about credit clinics. The address to write to is:
If you have any complaints regarding your credit report or credit remediation services that you wish to report to the FTC, contact them at:
|
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.